Cut-out device for pneumatically-operated switches



July 26, 1927. 1,637,199

' G. MEYFARTH v CUT-OUT DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIGALLY" GPERATED SWITCHES Filed Nov. 4, 1924 C5 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Fig. 1.

L rw E o r l 2" WWE/152 50 5732 26 July 26, 1927.

G. MEYFARTH CUT-OUT DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIGALLY OPERATED SWITCHES Filed Nov. 4. 1924 5 Sheets-Shut 2 July 26,' 1927. v 1,637,199

l G. MEYFARTH CUTPOUT DEVICE FOR PNEUMATICALLY -OPERATED SWITCHES v Filed Now/".4, 1924 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED@ STATES vPATAELNT ori-"llos,

`GOTTLIEB MEYFARTH, l0E GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, IAssIeNoE or @NE-HALF To .THE

FIRM: SOCIT ANONYME DES ATELIERS .-DE SECHEEON, oF SECHERON, GENEVA SWITZERLAND, A CORPORATIONAOE SWITZERLAND. l

CUT-CUT DEVICE FOR PNEUMATICALIY-OPERATED SWITCHES.

Applicationlfle'd November .4, 1924, Serial No. 747,712,v and in .Switzerland November 22, .1923.

is very undesirable as in that way all the auxiliary machinery on the vehicle is put yout of action at' the saine time, Thesaid disadvantage is obviated according Vto the `present invention by so arranging); the cut off device, that is elects the sudden cutting or switching out o'l the single switches closed in any running position and that the action of vthe mechanical d rive on the control. of the 'single switches remains suspended until itis brought into the zero position.

Several constructions ot ,the cutoff device according to the invention are illustrated by way olievainple in the accon'ipany- 'ing drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show a control provided with a yfirst construction, 'l

Figures 3 and l relate to a control fitted Vwitl1asec.ond construction,

Figures 5 to 8 show a control in which is used :another construction, .liigures 9 to 12 show a control in which is used a tour-th construction, and

:Figure 13 relates-to a last construction. Figure 1 shows a ,group of :three single switches f1, 2, 3 which ibelongfto a vehicle control for single .phase current, the/contacts 16 Eof which on one side are connected Vto various tappings of the secondary windingr nut or Ycarriage 7 mounted on a spindle.

The latter isrotated by hand y.by .means of two chain wheels, chain 5 and hand Vwheel 2()A on the controller The nut 7 is provided with a switchinv cam 8 which contacts with Vall the rollers olt .the rods l0, and with two locking lugs 9 co-operating with loe'l-V versely 'of the spindle 6, as it isfprovided `with. two guide parts 81, `82 lengaging vwith corresponding openings .in `ithe'nut .7. Normally it4 is held raised jby .springs .27, but it may'also Vbe :pulled down by a horlizontal rod 24 which co-operates with rollers .26 provided on :the guide parts '81., 8?. "The rod 2l is pivoted at both ,endsqto arms 22,

`23 rotatable about horizontal )pins arranged transversely of the rod. The rod.24 can ytherefore be raised or lowered Vby .the `rotation of the arms. The rotationlof the `arms in the direction yof :lowering the .rod 24 is brought about by a switching outlever i2l provided on the controller 4l of the vehicle and `connected by a :rod 25 to asecond .arm 221 secured to ithe arm .22. The `rotation in 'the oppositedirection is produced by atliird arm 222 `also secured .to the Yarm f22, .against The varm .221 is which the nut -7 strikes. further provided with a-pin233 `whiclrmoves in a slot 28 or' the rod 25. V,

The working of this control device .and of the construction ofthe cut-oldevice with which it is provided, .is as follows In I1`igure 1, the rods 10 ofthe valves 11, 12 lof the two single switches .1,:2, Ahave met the adjustable ycam S which is A.pressed .npwardly by the springs 27 as the rod .24 '.is in the raised positiongthe single `switches 1, 2 are closed, whilst the single vswitch 3 `is open. -If the closed single :switches 1, .2 are to be suddenly opened, the `switching out flever 21 must be pulled. In 'that .Way the cut-out rod24 is moved .in thedirection of the arrow .and brought into the position shown in Figure 2. Owing to .the movement of the cutout rod 24 the cam Swill be moved downwards against .-the action of the springs 27 .by means of the driving I oled. again until the nut 7 has been brought I last return to thezero position, moves rollers 26, a'nd lifted off from the rods 10 of the single switches 1 and 2, which will at once result in, cutting out or opening the single switches 1 and 2.

When the switching or cut-out device has been once operated, no single switch can be to the zero osition by means of the hand wheel 20. `his is attained owing to the fact that the switching out rod 24 once biought by the switching out lever 21 into the switching out position shown in Figure 2, can no longer be moved back on account of the slot 28 in the driving rod 25, and also owingto the fact that the nut 7, duringitl ac the arm 22 and with it the switching out rod 24, the cam 8 being brought to the normal position by the action ot' the two springs In the second construction of the cut-outde'vice (Figures 3 and 4), the operation of the same is elected by means ot the Same part-hand wheel 20-as that for thesingle switches 1, 2, 3.

The cam 8 of the nut 7 may bc locked in its lower position by means of a lock 31 which is controlled by the action of a spring 33, but ma 'be held by a pawl 30 jin such a position that the cam 8 is in its raised position. The pawl 30 is pivoted to an arml of a T-shaped releasing lever 29; a spring 35 acts on another arm of the lever, whilst the third arm maybe operated by thc locking rods `19 of the Asingle switches.

' y'Thefworking Vo'f the second construction is as follows:

InV Figure 3, the valve-operating rods 10 of the singlejswitches 1 and 2 have niet the cam 8 which is in its raised position and Atherefore have closed the single switches 1 and 2 whilst the single switch 2S is open.

If in this case the single switches 1 and 2 are to be suddenly opened or switched olf, the hand wheel 20 of the controller 4 must be turned to one contact step in the direction of switching oil', namely this turning must be effected more quickly than in the case of normal switching. In that way the nut 7 is moved' so quickly in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3 that the releasing lever 29mounted on it, is turned bfY the locking rod 19 of the single switch 2 be ore the single switch 2 had time to cut out or open.

Owing to the saidturning, the pawl 3() connected to the releasing lever'29 disengages'the lock 31, and the lattervis moved into the position shown in Figure 4. Owing to this movement of thel lock 31, the driving rolleis 26 of the cam 8 engage with the cams 32 of the lock 31, owing to which the cam 8 is moved away from the rods 10 ot the single switches 1 and 2, which bringsabout an 1mmediate opening of the latter.

When the cut-out device has once acted,

no single switch can be closed again. until the nut 7 has been brought to theizcro positionby means of the hand wheel 20.

Only during the last return movement of the nut 7 to the zero position, the lock 31 is moved back by a fixed stop 34 and locked by the pawl 30 controlled by the spring 35. At the Sametime the disengafred cams of the lock 31 enable the cam 8 to reurn to the normal position underV the acti.n of the two set springs 27, and the control device is again icady for switching in.

When a control device which is on any contact step, is to be moved back only to the extent ot' one or' more steps, the driver must turn back the hand wheel 20 with ncrmal speed; the cut-out device does not then become operative. Owing to the movement of the nut, the single switch to be opened, operated by the rod 10 meeting the earn 8, has sufficient time to complete its opening movement, and therefor also to complete the return of the locking rod 1S), so that the pawl lever 29 does not strike the latter, the release oi the cam thus beinir avoided.

According to Figures 58, the operation of the air valves 11, 1 2 of the single switches 1, 2, 3 is effected by means oi' a cam shaft` 39 operated by the hand wheel 20 of the controller 4 by means of a chain 5 and gear wheels 36, 3T. A subsequent locking of the cam shaft 39 in the case oi? a wrong position of the contacts 16 (Figure Vl) is ctfectcil by means of a locking rim 40 provided on each cam disc, in such a manner that a locking pawl 42 operated by means of a lever 18 and a connecting rod 41 from the piston slower rod 17, engages with the locking rim 4U and rods 1() of the single switches 2, 3 in engageff' ment with the cani discs 38, so that the contactsfl of the said single switches 2, 3 are closed, whilst the single switch 1 is open.

lfin the present case the single switches 2 and 3 are to be suddenly opened, the switching out lever 21 must be pulled over, owing to which the cam shaft 39 with the driver collars 43 is moved by the driving rod 25, by means of bell crank levers 44, in the direction of the arrow to such an extent that the rods 10 of the single switches and 3 are laterally moved away from their cam discs as shown in Figures 7 and 8, which results at once in the opening of the two single switches 2, 3.

lVhen the cut-out device has been once operated, no single switch may be closed again until the cam shaft 39 has been brought to the Zero position. This is attained owing to the fact that the lcam shaft, once brought bythe switching out lever 21 into the moved back owing to the existence of the slot 28 inthe driving rod 25, and that also the cam Shaft 39, during its last return movement to the zero position, is pushed into its normal position by the cam 46 of the -gear wheel 37 and by the fixed cam 45, owing to which the control device is again made ready for switching.

If, after the cut-out device has been operated, a `single switch does not open for some reason, that is to say if the locking lever of the corresponding switch remained in the position shown in Figure 5, the locking rim 40 strikes the locking lever in i qlpestion during the turning back of the cam s aft 39, and the driver of the car is prevented from moving the cam shaft 39 vback to the zero position, that is'to say prevented from closing any single switch.

In the fourth construction (Figures l9412) the sudden opening of the single switches `is effected, as in the second construction, by :a quick turning back of the hand wheel 20.

In Figure 10, the rods 10 of the single switches 2 and v3 have met the cam discs 38, so that the single switches 2 and 3 are closed, and the single switch 1 is open; If

in this case the single switches 2 and 3 are to be suddenly opened, the hand wheel 20 of the controller 4 must be quickly turned to the extent of one contact step in the direction of opening. Owing to this quicker Vturning of the cam shaft 39, the bevelled locking rim 40 of the 4single swi-tch 3 comes in contact, before thel switch had time to open, with the bevelled locking `lever 42 of the same switch, owing to which the cam shaft 39 is moved in the direction of the arrow 'to such an extent that the rods 10 `of the single switches 2 yand 3 are disengaged laterally from their cam discs 38 as shown 'in Figure 12, which results in an immediate opening of the two single switches.

After the switching out device has acted, no single switch can be closed again-as in the preceding constructionsuntil the cam shaft 39 has been brought to the Zero position. Only in the last return movement of "the cam shaft 39 to the zero position, the said shaft will be pushed into the normal position by the cam` 46 `of the gear wheel 37, and the fixed cam 45, and in thatJ way the control .gear is again made ready for switching.

If the driver of the car wishes to. switch back the control device Aof groups of single switches, which is in any4 switching position, to the extent of one or more steps he must turn the hand wheel 20 with normal speed in the direction of switching out. 'The switching out device does not then become operative. Owing tothe slower turning of the cam discs 38, the single switch to be opened, operated by the rod 10 meeting the cam disc 38, has sufiicient time to complete its switching out movement, and therefore also to complete the return of the locking lever 42, so that the bevelled locking rim 40 does not come in contact with the latter and therefore the cam shaft 39 is not moved.

.Figure 13 shows the last construction in which the cutting out of the single switches, and the rendering inoperative of the mechanical drive are effected by the first turning of the switching out lever 21 on the controller 4; the further turning `of the said switching out lever 21. brings to the Zero `position the drive of the control device of .the mechanical-pneumatic' single switches, which drive may be in any switching position, that;` is to say it is no longer possible to effect Ythe yreturn of the mechanical drive tothe zer-o position by means of the hand wheel 20.

A sudden opening of the single switches which may be inl any switching position, and the putting back of the mechanical drive, are effected as follows:

By pulling over the switching .out lever 21, dur-ing the first turning, the cam `shaft 39 is moved, lby means of an intermediate lever 48 connected to the lever 21 by means of a ball 47, and by means vof the driving rod 2,5, bell crank lever` 44 and zdriving collars 43, to such :an extent that the rods 1() ol the closed single switches move laterally off the caniv discs 38, which results in lan immediate `opening of thecorresponding single switches.

ln the 'first turning of the switching out lever 2l, the hand lwheel 20 is also uncoupled by means of a claw coupling `50 operated by means of a rod 49 and .heid fast. The continued turning of the switchingout lever L2l will turn in the :direction tof ythe arrow agear wheel 51 which has Vengaged with it,

and in that way returns to the zero position V the single :switch drive by means of a gear wheel 52 provided on a spindle 53. The `intermediate .lever 48 (and with it the whole .cut-out device) which yduring the first vturning movement came in contact with :the .cam

54, remains stationary as during further rturning it will be disconnected from the switching out lever 21.

After :the single switches have been `opened by the first kturning movement of .the switchl ing out lever 21,V none of them can lbe .again closed .until .the second turning move- Ament of :the switching lever .has been efffected, that is to saynntil the .cam shaft 39 has lbeen brought.-back .to vthe zero position. 'l

This is attainedowing `to the fact that athe cam shaft 39, moved into the switching out position by the first turning of the switching out lever 21, is no longer moved back on account of the slot 28 in the driving rod 25, and that also the cam shaft 39, in its last return movement to the zero position, is pushed into the normal position by the cam 46 of the gear wheel 37 and the fixed cam 45.v y

Only byreturning the switching'out lever 21 to the normal position. the hand wheel 20 is again unlocked by the claw coupling 50 and in that way the control device rendered again ready for switching.

Obviously, in place of hand drive for the control device by means of the hand wheel 20, a servomotor may be used, for instance an electric motor or a driving apparatus operated by compressed air. Cam shaft 39 may also be axially displaced by pneumatic or electric devices.

Thenumbeiof the single switches in the group may of course be otherwise than three. 'lhe current controlled by thesaid single switches may be a diiterent one from single phase current; althoughv the control devices to which the cut-out device is fitted, arey chiefly intended for electric vehicles, `the may be used for other purposes.

\%hat I claim is: y

l. In an apparatus `of the class described, a plurality of control niembers,a movable carriage, a cam associated ywith the carriage andadapted to actuate the said control devices, means for operating the cam to release a plurality of said control devices, land means whereby the said cam remains inoperative yuntil the said carriage iis returned to an initial position. Y

: 2. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of control members, a movable carriage, a cam associated with the carriage, means for normally maintaining the cani in an operative position for actuating the said control devices, means for shift ing the cam to an inoperative position to simultaneously yrelease a plurality of the said control devices, and means whereby when so lactuated the cam remains inoperative 'until the carriage is returned to an initial position,

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of control members, a movable carriage, a cam associated with the said carriage, yielding devices for normally maintaining tlie said cam in a raised position to actuate the said control devices, a rod cooperating with the said cam, means oractuating the rod to move the cam against the action of the said yielding devices to thereby render the cam inoperative and to release the said control devices,` and means whereby when thus rendered' inoperative the cam re-.

mains inoperative until the carriage is returned to an initial position.

y 4. In an apparatus'of theclassdescribed, a plurality'ot control members, ay movable carriage, a cam associated with the said carriage, yielding devices for normally maintaining the said cam in a raised position to actnate vthe said control devices.

devices, andV means whereby the cam remains ink an inoperative position until the said carriage is returned to an initial position.

In an apparatus of the class described` a plurality olf control members, a movable carriage, acam associated with the said carriage, yieldingdevices for normally main. taining the said cani in a raised position to actiiate the said control devices, a rod, rocker arms to which the ends ofthe said rod are pivotallyvconnected, alink connected to one of tlie rocker arms with a slip inovenient, nie-ans for actuating the said link to swing the said rocker arm and to thereby shift the cam to an inoperative position, and an extension carried by the aforesaid rocker arm actuated by the vlink with which the said carriage in an initialposition is adapted to contact to swing the rocker arm to reset the said rod and cam.

G. In anfapparatus of tlie class described, a plurality of control members, a movable carriage, a cam` associated with the said carriage, yielding devices for normally maintainingl the said cam in a raised position to act-nate the said control devices, a rod, rockci' arms to which the ends of the said rod are pivotally connected, a link connected to one ot the rocker arms with a slip movenient, a lever for actuating the said link to swing the said rocker arm and to thereby sliiitt the cam to an inoperative position, an extension carried by the aforesaid rocker 'ai'm actuated by the link lwith which the said carriage in an initial position is adapted to cont-netto swing the rocker arm to reset-the said rod and cam, and means for moving the said carriage.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. V

GOTTLIEB MEYFARTH. 

